Separ



E. GORIN SEPARATION OF' HYDROCARBONS AND HYDROCARBON DERIVATIVES Filed Jan. l0, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l HEHTEI? INVENTOR. Lfzferef 601111/ June` l5, 1954 E. GORIN SEPARATION OF' HYDROCARBONS AND HYDROCARBON DERIVATIVES Filed Jan. 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wm @gwn .shown thereafter '(Priewe,

Patented June 15, 1954 SEPARATION OF HY DROCARBON S AND HY DROCARBON "Everett Gorin, Castle :.Socony-Vacuum il .corporation of` New Y DERIVATIVES Shannon, Pa., assignor to Company, ork

Incorporated," a

LAlptraum January 1o, 195o, seriall No. 137,738

(o1. 19e-1v) 8 Claims.

'This 'invention fhas tc :do` with :the separation `tof.:hydrocarbonsand. hydrocarbon 'derivatives of .different 1 molecular configuration :from .mixtures `containingithe same.

I. FIELD OF INVENTION Numerous processes have beenrdeveloped for .,.thefseparation of hydrocarbons and `hydrocarbon derivatives .of 4diiierent molecular conguration `by-.taking advantage infselected reagents `or solvents from which they ,may later be separated. Exemplary of their selective` solubility of .hydrocarbon separation procedures is the Edcleanu process, -wherein paraflinic materials `are sepn.a'rated from Aaromatics byvirtue of the `greater .zsolubility of. aromatics, .Lubricant oil solventrening processes, solvent deasphaltng, solvent dewaxing and the like are further examples :of -:fthe separation of .hydrocarbons of different molecular conguration. "Typical of selectivesolvent procedures for sep- 'arating hydrocarbon derivatives is the separation of paraiiin wax, `monochlorwax and poly chlorwaxes, with acetoneas the selective solvent. This invention is concerned .withthe general "fiel'doutlned above, but based upon a diilerent "and little-known phenomenon, namely, the .di- 'fering'ability of hydrocarbonsand hydrocarbon be removed from As .used herein,

derivatives'to enter into and to certain crystalline complexes.

"theterm complexmbroadly denotes a combina- I'tion of two ormore compounds. "This invention is predicated.` upon .the'knowh y'edgethat ureaand thiourea form complex crys- *"talline compounds to a varying4 'degree with vari- Aous 'forms of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon "delshefte'i Chemie 28, 1125 (1907)) robserved that complexes, designated .as double compounds, "ofurea 'andthe isomeric cresolsare stable at dillerent temperatures. Schotte and Priewe (1,830,859) later` separated "metaecresol' from the corresponding para isomer by selectively forming` a.meta-cresol-.urea complex, which was de scribed as an ffaddition compound; the ,latter compound .was .separated f1-omi thexpara isomer `and then split nup by .distillation cr-with water oriacidto obtainpure. meta-cresol. The additioncompound of meta-cresol and urea `was to have utility as a :disinfectant 1,933,757). :Bentley aand `Catlow (1,980,901) `found ahum-ber of:;aromaticamines `tacted with a concentrated plexes of thiourea 'solvents to their containing at least one basic^amino group capable Vof forming double compounds with Acertain isomeric` phenols. It has also beenshown that trans-oestradiolcan be separated from the corresponding cis-compoundby forminga didicultly `soluble compound of urea `and transoestradiol (Priewe, 2,300,134).

The forces between urea and the compounds of the Vforegoing complexes are due to specific chemical `interaction between the various "functional groups.

One heterocyclic compound, 2 6 `lutidine, has been found to forma crystalline 4compoundwith urea, thus afordinga means of separatingthe lutidine from betaand gamma-picolines (Riethof, 2,295,606).

Comparatively 4few aliphatic `hydrocarbon derivatives have been known `to form complex compounds with urea. In 'German patent application B190,197,`IV`d/12 (Technical Oil Mission, Reel 143; Library of'Congress, May 22,1946), Bengen described a Vmethod'for the separation of aliphatic oxygen-containing compounds (acids, alcohols, aldehydesyesters andrketones) and of straight chain hydrocarbons .of `:at least six carbon atoms from: mixtures containing `the same, the `method 'being lpredicated .upon ithe ability vof ysuch compounds 'andhydrocarbons to form Additions-Produkt, with urea. Aimixture containing such aliphatic compoundsis consolution of `urea in water, methanol,:or ethanol, andthe like. In the Technical Oil `Mission translation of the `Bengen application, however, the urea complexes were designated adducts,' `which term apparently stems from the "anglicized ""addition The adducts "are separated into their components,` urea and straightchain `hydrocarbon or aliphatic oxygenecontaining compound, by heating or by the addition of methanol, water or an aqueous. solution.

Thiourea has also been known to form `cornplexes, perhaps" the rstof which is a complex with ethyl oxalate (Nencki, Berichte 7, #780 (1874)). Recently, crystalline molecularv comand certa-in organic compoundswere described-by Angla (Compt. rendus 224, 402-4 and 1166 (1947) The organic compounds recited include cyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, i cyclohexene, polycyclic 'terpenes; haldesyalcohols and ketonessof such cyclic hydrocarbons; and -halides of'short` chain parainns.

Crystalline molecular vcomplexes of such compoundsare dissociated by water and organic components, thourea and a compound `of" the foregoing type.

III. DEFINITIONS From the foregoing discussion of prior art (11) it will be clear that a variety of terms have been applied to urea and thiourea complexes. r'he latter have been rather loosely described. as double compounds, "addition compounds, difcultly soluble compounds, Additions Produkt, adductsf and crystalline molecular complexes. All of these terms are somewhat ambiguous in that they have also been used to describe products or complexes of different character than the urea complexes under consideration. This is particularly so with the term adduct, and the related terms unadduoted material and non-adducted material. While the term adduct is simple and convenient, it is an unfortunate designation, inasmuch as it confuses these complexes with other substances known in the chemical art. Specifically, adduct has been applied to Diele-Alder reaction products, formed by reaction of conjugated diolefins and oleiins and their derivatives. As is well known, Diele-Alder products as a rule do not revert to their original constituents when heated or treated with water, acids, solvents, etc. Moreover, the term adduct has been deiined earlier as The product of a reaction between molecules, which occurs in such a way that the original molecules or their residues have their long axes parallel to one another. (Concise Chemical and Technical Dictionary.) Further ambiguity is introduced by the term adduction which has been dened as oxidation (Hackh.)

To avoid the foregoing conflicting terminology, several related terms have been coined to define with greater specificity the substances involved in the phenomenon under consideration. As contemplated herein and as used throughout the specification and appended claims, the following terms identify the phenomenon:

Plexad-a revertable associated complex comprising a plexor, such as urea, and at least one other compound; said piexad characterized by reverting or decomposing, under the influence of heat and/or various solvents, to its original constituents, namely, a plexor and at least one plexand.

Plexand-a compound capable of forming a plexad with a plexor, such as urea and thiourea; compounds of this character differ in their capacity to form plexads, depending upon various factors described hereinafter and in related applications Serial Nos. 115,511 through 115,518 and 116,593, all filed September 13, 1949 (115,511 and 115,512, now abandoned; 115,513 now U. S. Patent No. 2,642,422; 115,516 now abandoned; and 115,518 now U. S. Patent No. 2,642,423), of which this application is a continuation-in-part and which, in turn, are continuations-in-part of application Serial No. 4,997, filed January 29, 1948. Application Serial No. 374,707, filed August 17, 1953, is a continuation of said abandoned application Serial No. 115,511. Application Serial No. 320,012, iiled November 12, 1952, and now Patent No. 2,642,424, is a continuation-impart of said abandoned application Serial No. 115,512 and abandoned application Serial No. 115,730, filed September 14, 1949. Application Serial No. 255,943, flied November 13, 1951, is a continuation of said abandoned application Serial No. 115,516. Application Serial No. 407,197, filed February 1, 1954, is a division of said application Serial No. 115,515. Application Serial No. 410,573, filed February 16, 1954, is a division of application Serial No. 266,547, led January 15, 1952, which, in turn, is a division of said application Serial No. 115,518 (now Patent No. 2,642,423).

Antiplex-a compound incapable of forming a plexad. with a plexor.

Plexor--a compound capable of forming a plexad with a plexand; such as urea and thiourea.

Plexate--to form a plexad.

PleXation-the act, process or eiect of plexating.

IV. OUTLINE OF INVENTION It has been found that the plexation procedures referred to above can be improved materially to provide a more eiiicient separation of a plexand from a mixture containing one or more plexands. More specifically, it has been found that improvement is realized by introducing a highly saturated plexor solution into a cooler fluid mixture containing one or more plexands, in such a manner that generally spheroidal, solid or semisolid globules of plexor solution are formed. The globules of plexor solution then interact with the plexand to form a plexad. of the same general spheroidal shape.

It has also been found that improved separation is obtained by forming a suspension of solidified plexor globules by agitation of the plexor with an antipleX, and contacting the suspension with a uid mixture containing one or more plexands.

Another important feature of the invention is the use of a tower wherein the plexand released by decomposition of the plexad is renuxed up into the column to provide for purification of the plexad.

V. OBJECTS It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an effective means for separating hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives of diiferent molecular configuration from mixtures containing the same.

An additional object is to provide a pleXand or plexands substantially free of an antiplex or antiplexes, A corresponding object is the provision of an antiplex or antiplexes substantially free of said plexand or plexands.

Another important object is the provision of a continuous method of separation of said plexands and antiplexes, which method is flexible, capable of relatively sharp separation, and not highly demanding of attention and of utilities such as heat, refrigeration, pumping power, and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

VI. INVENTION 1N DETAIL As indicated above, it has been found that the foregoing objects are achieved by plexation with urea or thiourea of a mixture containing one or more plexands.

(l) PLEXANDS AND MIXTURES SUITABLE FOR PLExATIoN The hydrocarbon mixtures and oxygen-containing parafn mixtures mentioned in the discussion of the prior art, above, are contemplated herein. So also are the compounds, plexands, shown therein to have the capacity to forni plexads. For example, when urea is used as a plexor, the mixture used may be: isomeric cresols (Kremanm Schotte and Priewe); oestradiols (Priewe); lutidine-picolines (Riethof); hydro- ,September 13, 1,1949.

ia-censos A. carbons tcontainingfstraight.; chain hydrocarbons :"ofgat ileast .six carbon ...atoms 'per rmolecule, .and :oxygen-containing:rmixtures containmgastraight chain acids, xfa'lcohols, aldehydes, esters and/cr tketones havingratleast six carbon `iatoms per Amolecule (Bengen). .the ldenitions Arecited above, vthat the;plexands Hof this mixtures .are `the compounds forming It will be apparent from plexads with urea, and .that the .antiplexes 'are Vtheccmpounds,which do1not formxureauplexads.

Hydrocarbon mixtures containingwn-parains fuinthe range of Cv-Cso'and higher,l such as Wax distillates, foots-oiLwgaspils, virgin lrerosenes, .straight run `naphthasA are ralso suitable when urea is used asthex-plexor, such :mixtures .being :shown in. copending application :Serial ANumber 14,997, afiled January `29, 1948. Other :mixtures shown in the latter application and also suitable `here arez, hydrocarbon mixtures containing nparaliins .and n-olefins, .and prepared by .-syn- ..thesis with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, i..e., typical :Fischer-Tropisch products prepared `.using cobalt and iron catalysts; cracked mixtures 4pre- ...pared .by the vapor phase cracking of stocks rich "in n-parailinssuchV as by the cracking of par- :aiiinic gasoils, roots-oil, crude waxes, etc.; mixtures containing straight chain oxygenated com- 4oxidation of high :molecular weight hydrocarbons; mixtures consisting: essentially of n-par- :ain-ns and n-olens, for the n-paraiiins form .i stronger plexads than the n-olciins; mixtures .consisting essentially of .n-olens `with the double `bond in various positions, for theolensV having a double bond nearthe end ofthe chain form @stronger plexads. than those having the `double hond further from the end .of `the chain; `hydromixtures, Aare also eiiicientlyiplexated with. urea .inthe present processf being shown .in applicafr tion Serial-No. 116,593, `iled September." 13, .1949.

tuted compounds from mixtures .containing'ithe .same and: non-terminally. substituted. compounds, `described in `application Serial. No. .1l5;`.517,led September 13, `1949, is `alsonaided materially by ,the present process.

.Urea plexation of. a inon-,terminallyrmonoesubstituted compoundfrommixtures containingthe sameand-.a non-terminally,poly-substitutedzcom- .H3 `Noir-Teunis al Substituent:

.rpoundrdescribedin application Serial No. 115,513, .led September 13, 1949, is `also improved substantially-by the presentprocess. Similariy,.more

effective resolution Withurea of mixtures containing paraiinic compounds of different degrees :of unsaturation is realized herein; these mixtures are described in detail in applications. Serial Nos. 115,514 and 115,518, led September 13, 1949. `With regard tothiourea plexation, the mixi. tures showni'in applications Serial Nos. 115,512

and 115,730, and now abandoned, led September 13 and -11, 1949, respectively, are suitable'in the present process. In application Serial No. 115,5112.fhigh1ybranched parains and/or highly branched olenns .are separated from straight chain orcless highly branched compounds. In application Serial No. 115,730, certain cyclopara- .funs and/orcyclo-olefins are separated from mixtures of the same and other hydrocarbons.

.As i shown in. said copending application Serial No. 115,511, plexation of a compound, plexand,

solvent phase can be regarded as an ideal solution. Also, it has been noted that the equilibrium concentrationdecreases with thein- `creasingr molecular weight of the plexands.

Equilibrium values have been determined for a'number of compounds by agitating solutions of varying concentrations of various compounds in iso-octane with a 70% methanol-30% water Asolution land noting the minimum concentration .that all fplexands do not form plexads equally Well,i.1e.,.sso1ne.plexands, secondary in characturn, has a greater capacity for plexad formation than :either the corresponding chloride or bromide.

Table 'I EQUILIB MUM-'VALUES Equilibrium "Structure Terminal Substituent:

In a similar vein, plexation of a plexand with a saturated thiourea solution proceeds until the concentration of the plexand is reduced to a certain minimum concentration, i. e., equilibrium concentration. rlhis is described in the aforementioned copending application Serial No. 115,512. When a plexand in an antiplex solvent is contacted with a slurry of thiourea in a saturated thiourea solution, the plexand is plexated to such an extent that its concentration is reduced to its equilibrium value for the given temperature, provided sufficiently long contact times, of the order of 0.5-3 hours, are employed and suicient excess thiourea is initially present such that the thiourea solvent remains substantially saturated with thiourea after plexation is complete. Equilibrium concentrations for several representative para-inns and oleflns were determined at 25 C., using a thiourea-saturated 70 per cent methanol solution. drocarbon solutions or" various concentrations of the hydrocarbon being investigated were stirred with thiourea solution until the minimum concentration at which plexation would take place was defined within f2.5 per cent. The results are shown in Table il, below.

Table II EQUILIBRIUM VALUES 1N THE THIOUREA PLEXATION OF PARAFFINS AND OLEFINS dpfj Equilibrium Hydrocarbon Tgmp" Conc. in Volume Percent 25.0 02.5i2-5 25.5 29.8112 25.5 10,7i-8 25,5 11.15105 25.5 83.8:k1-3 25. 5 43. 85:1.3 25.0 l 325i- 2.5 #girl- The completeness with which a particular hydrocarbon may be removed by thiourea plexation may be increased by lowering the temperature. The equilibrium concentration in an antiplex solvent generally decreases by a factor of about two (2) in lowering the temperature from 25 C. to 0 C., and by another factor of about 2.3 in lowering the temperature from 0 C. to .-25 C. This relationship is shown by the following. Equilibrium concentrations for plexad formation or 2,2,3-trimethyl butane and diisobutylene, respectively, were determined at 0 C. for comparison with the values at C. The results are given below in Table III.

Table III Equilib- Equilibrium Conc. riurn Conc. Hydrocarbon (A) in Vol. (B) in Vol. BIA A/B Percent at Percent at 0 C. 25 C.

2,2,3-Trimet`yl Bu- 5.9;!:1 .l 1l .15:05 13 0.53

tane. (25.5 C.) Diisobutylene 17 .55:08 32.5:1:2.5 13 0-54 (2) AN'rirLEx An antiplex, as defined above, is a compound incapable of forming a plexad with a plexor, such as urea or thiourea.

(3) PLEXOR- The plexors used herein include urea and thiourea, each of which is used in solution in a suitable solvent. rIhis solution contains suiiicient plexor such that it is considerably supersaturated Normal decane-hy- Q Vpreciable portion of when cooled to plexating temperatures, for example, about 0 C. to about 30 C., depending upon the molecular weight of the uid mixture being processed. By way of illustration, plexating temperatures recommended with mixtures containing n-parafns, or straight chain parafiins, are: Cf1C9,-10 to +10 C.; C10-C14, 0-20 C.; C15-C20, 10-25 C.; and C20-t, 20-35 C.; respectively. Further details with regard to temperature conditions are provided in the aforementioned applications.

The amount of plexor solvent used can be quite small, that is, just sufficient to lower the melting point of the plexor to about C. or slightly less, and to catalyze the plexation.

The plexor solvent, physically, should have at least a slight solvent power for the hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon derivatives, etc., under treatment. The solvent, chemically, should be substantially inert to the compounds of the mixture and also to the urea and thiourea; that is, the solvent should not be such as to convert an apthe compounds, urea and thiourea to other compounds which cannot participate in plexation. Preferably, the solvent should be heat stable, both alone and in contact with urea or thiourea, at temperatures at which the desired plexad is not heat stable.

Solvents generally Vuseful are selected from the class of alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, etc.; water; ethers, such as ethylene glycol dimethyl ether; and amines such as triethylamine, hexylamine, piperidine. Other solvents which can be employed include ethylene glycol and the higher glycols, particularly the butylene glycols; diamines such as diaminoethane, -propane and -butane; formic acid; acetic acid; formamide, and acetonitrile.

It is also contemplated herein to include a small quantity of a surface active agent in the urea or thiourea solution, in the manner described in copending application Serial No. 115,437, led September 13, 1949, which has been abandoned.

(4) TYPICAL SEPARA'rIoNs In order that this invention may be more readily understood, typical separations are described below with reference being made to Figures 1, 2 and 3 attached hereto.

In Figure 1, a quantity of concentrated urea solution is maintained in reservoir I at a temperature of about 60 C. to about 100 C., ior example. The urea solution contains sufficient urea such that it is considerably supersaturated when cooled to plexating temperatures, for example about 0 C. to about 35 C'. depending upon the molecular weight of the material being processed, such as a hydrocarbon oil. For purposes of illustration here, a hydrocarbon fraction containing straight chain and branched chain parains, such as a wax distillate fraction containing about 92.8 per cent oil and about 7.2 per cent hydrocarbon wax, is processed.

When a relatively viscous mixture is treated it is desirable to reduce its viscosity by the addition of a light antiplex diluent such as a light naphtha. Diluent can be introduced into reservoir l through a separate inlet line (not shown).

Pressure is applied to the surface of the urea solution by an inert gas, such as nitrogen, which isA introduced through valved line 2. Urea solution is forced out of reservoir l through line 3 to tower 4. In order to evenly distribute urea solution in tower 4, line 3 is provided with line 5 which contains a number of nozzles B, connected in parallelz.o Therressure inilinei-,l andftheeszeof ireilmentlees, Oeulaisolutfn: elidr, i0 prow the nozzles 6 are adiiistedofreeulate thesize. vidaforfanv aoiiwtmentfof-zureaawneen of thedroplets'orglobulescomingLfromfthe noz- Branchedchain parainsoarenot plexa d` 7 zles. The droplets generally ,vary in 1 diameter' tower 4 andiowi-to the top-,otthe tower, to line` il; fromgaboutglomicronsltc about 50D microns (or through which they are `removed-by means iofg about the size of small peas), It Willbeunderf pump-ISL- stoodjhat anyof thewell-knownymeans for pro- It is advantageouslto use larger sizep leiiad-L` vidinga Afinegsprayqo material canbeusedin beads, that iamgreaterithan about lo@ iiiierons:` place-of line 5. Forexample, line :wzartbepro-` when relatively long Contacttunes,V for example; videdwith a perforated lineextending across the lo mlllll'ee 01 more, are -lequired The .plX upper portionoftower-ii, or airingcontaining;an beads, aftelthey have formed4 while falling number of orices., througha body `of" hydrocarbon-fractionl aref4 The hydrocarbonfraction, containing straight aOWed to SettleA to a` compact bed.` Thef bed,- chain parafns and branched chain paralins, isl fQa-. OIL'ODAO -he hOG urea SOluOlfl loheaileljI introduced J.into-the;tower 4 through;line ,'lxby 1" ISand moves down tower lilas the plexad beads pump il,` andthe hydrocarbons flow counter.- are melted A; by4 the hot urea solution. In this"V currently to the aurea. dropleta` The temperature, Wala-(the Colloeoo tme S adjusted by; theolate ,y ofstowerwlfis maintained at about C. to about t 0f applo'n 0f heat, t0 the T1011 lllelSOllltiOrl4 lfb- 85'C. for Veflicent .plexationfby meansof a ,cool-,4 beate? i3.` ant, suon as water, which isoirouiatedthrough 2o Gne'iypcal means for operating tower time; tower jacket 9 by means `of4 pump Iin line" Il to i olie-*1) is illustrated; 1'11 Figure 2- ASiSlflOWIl',4 or

1in@ l2, perforated plate 2i is positioned in the tcp/ven.V Urea idroplets randchydrocarboni` fraction come abolie rin? through' Whehhe `wax dl'stillatev into Contact inftower 4 whereupon. rigid or semi-` Charge 1S Hlfilfoflleed,` and a Solid plate 2,2718 DGS- rigid beads are `formed due to.` the cooling action tiene@ therein beoWyne 7- Plates 2l erldfgi'. ofnthehydrocarbons on thesuper-saturatedurea rheleole, define e ,System Such .as e oubblelpleftesolution. Plexadsrform` within the, beads. or. CeHlJroHyPOSlOled in rho tower and Seollred; spheres due` to4 interaction between the4` urea` byfpotes 2i and mis Conduit 23 (or SelerorSoojlglobules anditheaplexands, conduits ifdesireol). Conduitzt has open capp When the urea droplets are relativelysmall, as e, 3o 24 attached ed the upper end, and ie of` suoli; of. tho-order or about zomiorons, the .p1oxad engthV that the upper @rid and @an 24 extend beads-areipreferably maintaineolfinV suspension in above. perforated plete 2j and JGhe loWel end, the. hydrocarbonfractionA ando prevented i from thereof eXerllS below Hoe. l5 In opelooooi, coagulatingtoiaisolid bed by regulating therataA 'merli e (more Suoloeosorr of pleXol Solution and ofaoidiiionand raie of fausoftno boadsto piovioio` i hydrocarbons 1S present 111 the tower above .can a relatively dilute suspension.` The rate of fall of 2o? and o dormo umlzed phooo of 'loleXadSi PleXor the plexad beadsin the hydrocarbonfractioniis globules orlo hyoroooroorlsf 1S Present' the regulated miam-usted by theheghtf mwen* region about the perforated plate `2t inasmuchand the lneapvelocjy of the` ol Thercontact I asthis region is richest in Wax plexand present time of theiplexad-beads `in tower is preferably 'lo in the incoming Waxodistillatercharge. TheodenseH maintained within the range of 1-15 i minutes, Phase travels down through pipe 23, With the gell' l whiioihoioontaot timoof the hydrooarbonfracerallyspheroidal,plexads forming. a compaetibea. tion is. generally somewhat longer, asabout 20 in thooportoll loflrhotowor about-the lowerierldli minutos.` of pipe 23 andebovei the molten Wax, plexarlid .1 The plexad beads fall throughthe hydrocarbon is in heater 3- The Wax plexand ser' free @oper fraction, as a resultoftheirgreater-density, into |3fr1so5 up. rhrolllgh the plexo@ ood o rlile" roheaterllwhereintheyare-melted andresolved.` moved through 11n@ l5 l In thisway, straight-chain or'nparafns are Orleoidvorrbofgo of the foregolrlg Prooossron liberated ond-tho urea solution isirooonstit-uies. Sldes 1n the large mount 0f rl-hydrocarbonwhlcb- Heater-I3 is-mai-ntained about 40 C: higher than .fio C m be reoOVeled Der unifi quantity. 01 lllegslilf thetemperatureof tower 41 As a` precaution the tion olroulatoflf Thus 1t hoo been foorldltholtemperature iin-heater i3 is generally maintained` up to 17We11t5*r1Ve Der oon? byvolumeof irl-hydro?- belowabout- 190i'l when urea is Aused, lestsome ooroon` oooh@ adsorbed mathe urea' Sollrtlor-rlbyi ureabe-lost by-decompositioni, or even lower if 15h15" teohmqo-o qsmg oonvonoonol motrlooo" the plexandof-the--plexad should decompose at oooh, as deoorlbod lrr to@ aforoso'ld. oppilloatrorroix a lower-temperature Similarly, when thiourea 011.15/ about Seven to. eoollt romper oel-1t of" 11A-v is used as the plexor, the heater temperatureis hydrocarbon 1S adsorbed due to the feet that kept below about i C. the Ureoasolverlr' beooroos Very'thok anooolllts. The Warm straight chainparafns tendfto rise to, handle, When largerqllefrltteo of `the .ll-hydr up-throughheatorlsiioiowor-iwhore they are so Carboniareemployed In-asidiltorlrure. cooled by the cooler temperature of `tower `jacket is Obreirleonrlepreserl? Drooedurerwioll ellrl 9, and` simultaneously- Wash descendingA plexad 1710.11. Of Weehllgof DleXdWhrlert SQlVelllIldJ beads free of adhering hydrocarbons. In this Subsequent dietlloifoll, t0 leirlof'ek theiloilelySSJl-o Way,` a fraction of the liberated straight chain vent.` parainsisrefluxed to tower d: The pureV o5v Figue 3 ShOWSzailelofed. proellgoeehnlllleo straight chain paraflins are pumpedout oftower which involves formationV oit a, susperisign 0 1? 4 bymeansiofipump I 4in line l5. A porous fil-ter solidiied urea-solyent; droplets by agitationA-anddisc, or similar means V(not shown) can-be procooling the suspension in the-antiplex: fraction" vided-in` line- I5' to prevent plexad beads from ratherV than by dropping the hot urea solutionL passingthrough with recovered n-parains. To. through the hydrocarbons, lfleated urean soloi,

'Urea-solution-setfree in heater lil-ispumpedr tion,` at 1 about 70 Q ,Uind line zdandnparafun therefrom through liney lfandpumpll'l to-reser defioient;1oi1 (oilr containingN some 1;-,plargairnsiAA Voir Il for re-use. It- Willbe understood that in linel 26;, are;V introduced thro1-igl'i.` linev:l 2L," o"` lineflzito provide: forfmmori` mechanical orten-toy The emulsied mixture thus formed is talee@ through line 29 and cooler 30 to settler 3l. When so cooled to about 25 C., a mixture of urea and urea solvent solidiiies in the form of a mass oi individual particles and settles to the bottom of settler 3i. The solidified mixture is taken through valved line 32 to the top of tower 33. In settler 3|, the n-paraihn deficient oil (or antiplex) forms the upper layer and is removed through line 34 by means of pump 35.

In tower 33, the hydrocarbon charge containing n-paraiins and branched chain parains, such as a wax distillate, is introduced through line 36 by means of pump 31. The temperature of tower 33 is also maintained at about 20 C. to about 35 C. for efficient plexation, and temperature control is realized by circulating a coolant, such as water, through tower jacket 38 by means of line 39, pump 43 and line lil. The solid particles from the top of tower 33 settle through the oil (from line 3G) at a rate designed to allow the particles to collect (by plexation) sufficient n-pararlins to produce a iinal mass comprising from about live to about 25 per cent, by volume, of n-paramns. rlhat is, the residence time of the beads in the tower is regulated to fall within the range of 1 15 minutes. The urea solventurea plexad mixture thus formed falls into heater 42 wherein it is heated to about {SG-100 C. to decompose the plexads. Upon decomposition of the plexads, n-parains are set free and the urea solution is reconstituted. The liberated n-parans are removed from the system through valved line 43. Reconstituted urea solution is removed from the heater 42 through line 25,

which has pump 44 positioned therein. Makeup urea solution is introduced through line i5 whenever necessary.

In tower 29, the branched chain parains are not plexated and rise to the top of the tower together with a small amount of unplexated n-paramns, thus constituting an n-paranin-deiicient oil. The latter is taken from tower 33 through line 26 by means of pump 46.

I claim: Y

1. The process for separating a compound (I) having the capacity to form a crystalline complex with a complex-forming agent selected from the group consisting of urea and thiourea, from a mixture containing said compound (I) and a compound (II) incapable of forming a crystalline complex with the same said agent, which comprises: introducing into an upper section of a tower a highly saturated solution of said complex-forming agent, said solution flowing downwardly through the tower; introducing said mixture into a central section of the tower, the mixture being maintained at a lower temperature than said solution and at which temperature said solution is supersaturated with said agent, the said mixture being in contact with the downwardly owing solution in a central section of the tower, whereby rigid globules of said agent are formed; retaining said rigid globules in said mixture until complex formation occurs with the formation of a complex or said agent and said compound (I) in generally spheroidal form, in a central section of said tower; thermally decomposing said complex to set free compound (I) of` said complex and to Yreconstitute said solution, in a lower section of the tower, whereby said compound (I) is rerluxed through said complex spheroids; and withdrawing said freed compound (I) from the tower below the introduction of said mixture.

2. The process of claim i', wherein the mixture' is a mixture of hydrocarbons.

3. The process of claim l, wherein is a hydrocarbon wax distillate.

4. The process of claim l, wherein the com plex-forming agent is urea.

5. The process for separating wax from a hydrocarbon wax distillate, which comprises: in troducing into an upper section of a tower a highly saturated urea solution, said solution flowing downwardly through the tower; introducing said distillate into a central section of the tower, the distillate being maintained at a lower temperature than said urea solution and at which temperature said urea solution is supersaturated with urea, the said distillate and said downwardly flowing solution being in contact in a central section of the tower, whereby rigid urea globules are formed; retaining said rigid urea globules in contact with said distillate until complex formation occurs with the formation of a wax-urea complex in generally spheroidal form, in a central section of said tower; thermally decomposing said wax-urea complex to set free the wax thereof and to reconstitute said urea solution, in a lower section of the tower, whereby said wax is reiluxed through said waxurea complex spheroids; and withdrawing said freed wax from the tower belowV the introduction of said distillate.

6. The process for separating a compound (I) having the capacity to iorm a crystalline complex with a complex-forming agent selected from the mixture the group consisting of urea and thiourea, from a mixture containing said compound (I) and a compound (II) incapable of forming a crystalline complex with the same said agent, which comprises: contacting a highly saturated solution of said complex-forming agent with said compound (II), the latter compound being maintained at a lower temperature than said solution and at which temperature said solution is supersaturated with said agent, whereby a suspension of rigid globules of said agent are formed; introducing said suspension into an upper section of a tower, said suspension flowing downwardly through the tower; introducing said mixture into a central section of the tower, wherein it is in contact with the downwardly iiowing suspension; retaining said suspension in contact with said mixture until complex formation occurs with the formation of a complex of said agent and said compound (I) in generally spheroidal form, in a central section of the tower; thermally decomposing said complex to set free compound (I) of said complex and to reconstitute said solution, in a lower section of the tower, whereby said compound (I) is reluxed through said complex spheroids; and withdrawing said freed com- Y pound (I) from the tower below the introduction of said mixture.

'7. The process for separating a compound (I) having the capacity to form a crystalline complex with a complex-forming agent selected from the group consisting of urea and thiourea, from Va mixture containing said compound (I) and a compound (II) incapable of forming a crystalline complex with the same said agent, which comprises: contacting a highly saturated solution of said complex-forming agent with said compound (II), the latter compound being maintained at a lower temperature than said solution and at which temperature said solution is supersaturated with said agent, whereby a suspension of rigid globules of said agent are formed;

separating said compound (1I), added in the preceding operation, from said suspension; introducing said suspension into an upper section of a tower, said suspension owing downwardly through the tower; introducing said mixture into a central section of the tower, wherein it is in contact with the downwardly flowing suspension; retaining said suspension in contact with said mixture until complex formation occurs with the formation of a complex of said agent and said compound (I) in generally spheroidal form, in a central section of the tower; thermally decomposing said complex to set free compound (I) of said complex and to reconstitute said solution, in a lower section of the tower, whereby said compound (I) is reliuxed through said complex spheroids; and withdrawing said freed compound (I) from the tower below the introduction of said mixture.

8. The process for Separating a compound (I) having the capacity to form a crystalline complex with a complex-forming agent selected from the group consisting of urea and thiourea, from a mixture containing said compound (I) and a compound (II) incapable of forming a crystalline complex with the same said agent, which comprises: contacting a solution of said complexforming agent with said compound (II) cooling the resulting mixture of compound (II) and said CTI 'said compound (II) solution to a temperature at which a mixture of said agent and solvent for said agent solidies in the form of a mass of particles; separating added in the preceding operation, from said mass of particles; introducing said mass of particles into an upper section of a tower, said mass of particles ilowing downwardly through the tower; introducing said mixture into a central section of the tower, wherein it is in contact with the downwardly llowing mass of particles; retaining said mass of particles in contact with said mixture until complex formation occurs with the formation of a complex of said agent and said compound (I) in generally spheroidal form, in a central. section of the tower; thermally decomposing said complex to set free compound (I) of said complex and to reconstitute said solution, in a lower section of the tower, whereby said compound (I) is reluxed through said complex spheroids; and withdrawing said freed compound (I) from the tower below the introduction of said mixture.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,081,720 Van Dijck May 25, 1937 2,369,559 Gilliland Feb. 13, 1945 2,499,826 Fetterly Mar. 7, 1950 

1. THE PROCESS FOR SEPARATING A COMPOUND (1) HAVING THE CAPACITY OT FROM A CRYSTALLINE COMPLEX WITH A COMPLEX-FORMING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF UREA AND THIOUREA, FROM A MIXTURE CONTAINING SAID COMPOUND (1) AND A COMPOUND (11) INCAPABLE OF FORMING A CRYSTALLINE COMPLEX WITH THE SAME SAID AGENT, WHICH COMPRISES: INTRODUCING INTO AN UPPER SECTION OF A TOWER A HIGHLY SATURATED SOLUTION OF SAID COMPLEX-FORMING AGENT, SAID SOLUTION FLOWING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE TOWER; INTRODUCING SAID MIXTURE INTO A CENTRAL SECTION OF THE TOWER, THE MIXTURE BEING MAINTAINED AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN SAID SOLUTION AND AT WHICH TEMPERATURE SAID SOLUTION IS SUPERSATURATED WITH SAID AGENT, THE SAID MIXTURE BEING IN CONTACT WITH THE DOWNWARDLY FLOWING SOLUTION IN A CENTRAL SECTION OF THE TOWER, WHEREBY RIGID GLOBULES OF SAID AGENT ARE FORMED; RETAINING SAID RIGID GLOBULES IN SAID MIXTURE UNTIL COMPLEX FORMATION OCCURS WITH THE FORMATION OF A COMPLEX OF SAID AGENT AND SAID COMPOUND (I) IN GENERALLY SPHEROIDAL FORM, IN CENTRAL SECTION OF SAID TOWER; THERMALLY DECOM- 